Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

Three days later...

"Today is our last day, and we must make the best of it!" The teacher announces just as Rose pulls a chair to sit

next to me.

| barely look up. My mind is still spinning, replaying that night like a broken record on loop.

The kiss.

God.

That kiss.

It had knocked the air out of my lungs and left a dull ache in my chest. | couldn't shake off. Like a burn that

wouldn't stop tingling.

| hadn't talked to Alex since. Not properly, anyway. | mean, we share a room, so speaking is inevitable.

We'd shared a few stolen glances, a tension-filled breakfast where | refused to look at him, and one accidental

brush of hands that sent my entire nervous system into panic mode.

Rose leans toward me, snapping her gum loudly. "You look like you haven't slept in three days."

"I haven't," | mumble, flipping my pen in my hand.

"Why? You miss Zayan?" She asks.

| pause, turning to look at the growing smile on her face.

Yeah, I... I do."

I'm lying. | don't, but I'm not about to admit who is buried in my mind.

"We're more similar than you think, sweetie." Rose places a warm hand on my back.

"We are?" | laugh.

I don't think so.

"Yep. So I'll help you save tand tell you to just break up with Zayan. He'll be fine. You don't click like you do

with Alex. I know that because I, too, was in the ssituation.

You see, Ethan did sshady things when we just got married. He didn't cheat. he just hurtwith his

actions. Then | divorced him and ran away with my surviving triplets.

| lost one, unfortunately, but two grew into beautiful kids. They're nine this year, and we had one more, Kai is our

last born.

I'm not telling you this because | support what he did. But because | can tell he loves you and as long as he

didn't cheat or lay his hands on you, I think it's okay to give it another try. | saw the way he looks at you, the day

we cto have Zayan reinstated.

| always see that look, so I'd know it from anywhere. | know you feel no spark with Zayan, too. So why torture

yourself? Life is too short babe, you never know when you're breathing your last, so don't waste any second!"

My mouth opens.

Then it closes again.

Then it opens.

| can't form any sentences. | met Ethan. | think he's here as we speak. He must be with the fathers on the other

side. But the way he looks at her, protects and loves her.

| can't picture him being anything else.

The way he kisses Rose's forehead every the walks past her? The man who brings her tea every morning

we've been here and carries their sleeping son on his back like it's his favorite burden?

Their love looks effortless.

Like it was born perfect.

But it isn't.

Maybe no love is ever born perfect. It has to be forged in fire, in a mess, and all the imperfections for it to thrive.

And maybe... maybe our story deserves a second chance.

Does that mean there's hope?

Am | thinking about taking Alex back?

My heart screams yes.

God, | don't know.

My heart still hurts when | think of Zayan because he doesn't deserve this. He's a

great guy and a great friend. But | can't see myself marrying him.

I'll be miserable. Rayen won't accept him, | just know it. I'll fight with his mother, and that will makeeven

more miserable.

| blink fast, shaking the thoughts off just as the teacher claps her hands together, calling everyone's attention.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen!" she says cheerfully. "We're ending this trip on a high! Today's final task is for

parents!

We're splitting you up. Mothers on the left, fathers on the right. Each group will be given one challenge, and any

points earned will go to your child's team."

Groans echo around the room, followed by laughter and the shuffling of chairs. "Ladies," she continues, "you will

be building a mini playhouse using only the materials provided outside. Creativity and teamwork are key!"

A few mothers gasp.

Rose smiles.

| bet this is a piece of cake for her.

"Fathers," the teacher adds, turning to the other group, "your task is to prepare a meal for all of us. You will have

access to basic ingredients, a campfire setup, and an outdoor grill.” s

Rose slumps back into her seat, rubbing her face.

"Oh God, they're going to burn us to the ground."

| laugh.

She leans closer and whispers, "I once sent my husband to get groceries, and he hired someone to go with him

because he didn't know what aisle eggs are in Cooking? That man is about to light this plastic forest on fire." s

A laugh escapes me, unexpected and full.

And with it, a memory slips in,

The night | slept over at Alex's house. The way he fedbreakfast and furrowed

his brow when | told him the waffles were too delicious to have been made by

him.

We laughed and had a good time.

Is that when the fire started? It never went away exactly, but | buried it so deep

and locked it in resentment so | wouldn't feel it again.

But he broke down my walls bit by bit until that fire cracked and warmed up my chest until it burned.

Rose raises an eyebrow, nudgingsoftly.

"What is that smile? Please givethe good news. Do we have hope with Alex?"

| cover my mouth with my hand, trying to stifle another laugh, then shake my

head.

"The man only knows how to boil water."

"Then | guess we better make sure our boys get to learn the basic skills of life!"

She stands, pulling her shirt to her elbow.

"Where do we start?"

"Right over there, Mrs. Sinclair!" the teacher points.

The moment Rose rolls up her sleeves, | feel a flicker of excitement spark in my

chest.

She's ready. And honestly, | am, too.

It looks fun, and even though I don't know shit about building, I'm willing to try until | get it right. Rayen and the

other kids are going to watch, and that s a big deal. How we handle this will reflect in their minds forever. s

Right after the teacher finishes explaining, a voice from the other group pipes up.

"You expect us to cook?" one of the fathers scoffs, his arms folded over his designer shirt. "Con, we have

people for that."

A chorus of chuckles follows from a few other dads, all shaking their heads like

the idea of holding a spatula might kill them.

"This is ridiculous," another adds. "I'm a CEO. | don't need to prove | can flip a

burger."

"Exactly," a third chimes in. "Why embarrass ourselves? This isn't MasterChef. My son will inherit my company,

not a damn kitchen!"

word

word

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

word

word

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWLHI0RAO&1

mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1

mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1

mmMwWLIiI0fiflO&1